CHICAGO—State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr., a Democrat from Chicago, is pleased to announce the Commission on Police Professionalism will continue to review police practices to ensure better police-community relations.

The commission was established when a groundbreaking law enforcement reform package became law in 2015. This legislation, signed into law Aug. 10, includes many recommendations issued by President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing and extends the commission’s sunset date from Dec. 31, 2018 to July 1, 2019.

“We must continue to do all we can to ensure positive relations between law enforcement and the communities they are charged with protecting and serving. Recent police encounters throughout the country have furthered strained these already frayed relations” said Sims. “This commission is an important part of Illinois’ efforts to improve training and licensing standards which will help ensure we are providing law enforcement with the tools they need to be successful while also addressing community concerns.”

The new law also prevents the director of the Illinois State Police from appointing auxiliary state police.

The commission was designed to review current training, the certification process of law enforcement and law enforcement duties and to determine whether some law enforcement officers should be licensed.

“This commission is all about working closely with law enforcement throughout our state to form better relationships between police and the communities they serve,” said Sims.